Science Education

Overview

For nearly 200 years the New York Academy of Sciences has brought together extraordinary people working at the frontiers of discovery and has promoted vital links between science and society. The Academy has a history of building new scientific communities, constructing innovative connections among an extensive scientific network, and driving path-breaking initiatives for scientific, social, and economic benefit.

The Academy has a three-pronged mission: to advance scientific research and knowledge, to help resolve the major global challenges facing society with science-based solutions, and to increase the number of scientifically informed individuals. Since the 1940s, the Academy has made investments in K–12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) science education, with such programs as the New York City Science and Engineering Fair, capacity building programs to support outreach in other institutions, and mentoring programs for top performing students in New York City. These investments have increased the city's ability to nurture top scientific talent.

Education & Public Programs Highlights

The Academy is developing programs that offer research opportunities to high-school students both here and abroad.

The Academy sponsors 1,200 memberships for educators each year through the Science Teachers Program, providing opportunities to learn and participate in the scientific community.

The NeXXt Scholars Programsupports young women from the US and countries with predominantly Muslim populations earning undergraduate STEM degrees at U.S. women's colleges.

More than 8,500 young STEM professionals in the Science Alliance gain professional scientific resources, career development, and entrepreneurship training.

In 2013, the Academy embarked on its first programming for gifted and talented high-school students through a partnership with the Prime Minister of Malaysia. With the National University of Malaysia, the Academy created a series of "Nobelist Mindset" workshops for gifted and talented high school students, their teachers, and promising university faculty.

More recently, the Academy has also become increasingly aware of the connection between science education and solving worldwide issues. As the global population grows exponentially, economic systems become increasingly complex and inter-connected, and natural resources grow ever scarcer, the difficulties of providing the world’s citizens with even the basics of nourishing food, clean water, and competent medical care continue to mount and expand. But we can meet all of these challenges—and many more—by advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation. Thus, it is clear that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-literate citizens will shape the future of global progress and security.

To address this reality, the New York Academy of Sciences is developing innovative approaches to reinforce the leaky STEM pipeline. The Academy has developed a transformative and wide-reaching complement of activities, with a focus on mentoring and inspiring students and scientists at all stages; fostering communities of scientists, students, and teachers; and delivering the scientific community’s wealth of resources directly to the students and educators who need them the most. The Academy seeks to create systemic improvements in global STEM literacy, from primary education to the professional level, ultimately establishing a feedback loop to foster the next generation of innovators.

The Education & Public Programs’ mission is to inspire and support lifelong engagement with the sciences by creating education opportunities for scientists, educators, students, and the public. By providing invaluable resources to scientists at every stage of their lives and career development and by training and encouraging scientists to mentor their younger colleagues, the Academy is on the vanguard of ensuring that the world’s most pressing challenges are not only met but overcome—today, tomorrow, and forever.

Nurturing Scientific Curiosity

NYC Science Education Initiative

The New York City Science Education Initiative offers science education professionals unique events and publications on such topics as classroom best practices, innovative education programs, and developments in science education policy. It also connects science teachers with the New York scientific community to promote understanding of current scientific discoveries and trends, while forging links between students, their teachers, and practicing scientists.